April 2008
I know the question apparently may sound daft.
There are several organizations (including some motoring organisations and Conservative Party) are advocating for the limit to raise 80 mph at least, over many years. Many studies have also been in favour of revised higher limit.
So, what is the fundamental problem which prevents limit being raised?
If most people want something but it is still can't be implemented, it usually means there are fewer people who are against it - but they are actually far powerful than millions of ordinary citizens. So, govt. is more interested in their demand than rest of us.
For example, everyone is seemed to against immigration - but govt. is reluctant to impose any control on migrants. Simply because most powerful industrialists are in favour or immigration since it supplies them with cheap labour thus increasing their profit.
Similarly, there is "conspiracy theory" that Congestion Charge is actually welcomed by city millionaires - as it makes travelling through London streets much faster in their Rolls, Aston or Ferraris.
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As some may know, ever since my Nissan 200SX landed me in a hedge on a wet slimey road, I have faffed around with trying to find something as exciting to drive, with 2 + 2 seating, luxury leather etc, but without the SX foibles. Preferably something 4WD.
Watching Fifth gear was interesting when they put a Escort Cosworth up against a Focus ST, the Escort won by a wide margin because according to the driver VBH it kept grip out of the corners. Well I have no intention of driving anything like VBH, but that just cemented for me the impression that 4WD is going to give me the security I need if in that postion again (coming out of a bend on to a slimey wet road).
Mind you, lesson learnt too about reading road conditions... anyway I digress.
I test drove an 04 Audi A3 3.2 Quattro yesterday. It drove beautifully, was in lovely lovely condition but has nearly 90K on the clock. However with full service history I don't think thats a problem.
It has beautiful 2 tone (black.blue) leather, and all other examples I can find in the usual sites have a cream leather which I wouldn't like. It has the upgraded Bose audio system too, but other than that I felt it lacked things a premium branded car ought to have these days... note the following:
1. crap interior lighting (my old Ford Scorpio had lighting in footwells, and puddle lights in the door, the A3 had nothing but a roof light front and back)
2. no audio remote controls on the steering wheel, my Scorpio, VW Bora, Ford Galaxy, Peugeot 406, even Fiat Marea had those (all driven over last 10 years).
3. No auto dimming rear view mirror - again my 1998 Scorpio had that, so did my VW Bora.
4. No heated windscreen (Scorpio and Galaxy again)
5. No Heated seats - Ford Galaxy and Scorpio both both those in 1998/1999
6. No electric memory seats (Ford Scorpio, Peugeot 406).
Now, heres the thing, I haven;t looked in detail at any Audi, BMW, or Merc before, but the dealer says that these premium German brands are usually badly equipped, however this is not the lead in 1.6 I am looking at, but the flagship 3.2 Quattro.
Given the above, I am being "picky", expecting too much? or have I hit on something not commented on much, certainly there's nothing in HJs review of the A3 (2003) which leads the reader to feel the car will short change him of luxuries.
Certainly in many of the cases above, once you have had these items, you kind of don;t want to loose them when choosing your next car, and a Ford Scorpio or Galaxy, a VW Bora and a Pug 406 are barely the last words in luxury.
Guy
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Thanks I guess I want best of both, the whole reason I looked at the vehicle is the performance of the 3.2 V6 combined with 4WD, it certainly drove impressively. But although all those things listed are non essential "nice to haves" in the case of most of them,they also help make you feel good in the car even before you turn the key, the turning the key puts the biggest smile on your face.
Sounds like SE trim would offer more, but the 3.2 Q is not available in SE Trim.
One thing the previous owner did "tick" was custom leather, the car in question has beautiful 2 tone black/blue leather whilst all other examples I can find have a rather horrid cream coloured leather.
What is the conventional wisdom about high mileage, this has done 87,000 in 4 years, but looks immaculate and nothing felt loose or baggy when I drove it. Reckon it has largley been o n the motorway - it is an ex lease car with full history.
Anything in the history I should look out for,
As for "you should buy a Scorpio"... I would love a Cosworth Scorpion but Ford stopped making them far to early, and never replaced it with anything similar, hoping to customers would buy Jaguar, X and S type I think are horrid, and the XJ just not my thing!
if you want luxury, performance, and 4WD, but don't want to go down the SUV route, then Audi seem to have it sewn up with the A3 and A4 series.
Guy
I've just picked up a pair of these (Two pairs because they didn't have my 400mm, 530mm combination packs, although they had various other combinations).
I notice the rubber leaves a black residue on my hands. Do BRs suggest I remove this, and if so what with?
I got them to replace the really annoying judder and screech on the existing ones, at only four quid a pair, I thought it was worth a go.
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>>..this will leave a waxy residue on your glass>>
Which is the main reason I don't use Wash 'n Wax type products when cleaning my car.
I have a 1988 EFI 3.5 Range Rover, which has developed the sort of
fault that drives one to drink (well, I can't drive the car so I might
as well)
It starts well from cold, and runs fine. When hot tho' it doesn't
want to know. Leave it 15 minutes and it will start again instantly.
I've changed the ECU for a spare and the symptoms are unchanged. I
suspect the answer is quite simple - once one knows what it is. My
suspicion is a sensor related to temperature is telling fibs to the
electronics. The question is, is this a fault that is familiar to
anyone, and can someone suggest which component(s) to change first
(and where they are)?
Oh, one other point! there is a cold start injector on the plenum
chamber. When I had starting problems a couple of years ago (finally
traced to unclean connector on the ECU) someone on here told me to disconnect it.
I did so, and the thing has started perfectly ever since - until now.
I've also taken the obvious step of cleaning the ECU connector again.
Any ideas, anyone????
Yn amlwg nad ydych yn deallt Saesneg, felly cesio yn y Gymraeg ichi roid manylion y peiriant a'r blwyddyn gwneuthuriad. Read more
Just bought a 1988 classic that had this problem. There is a sensor at the back of the engine that has 2 wires going to it. These wires come from a relay that is positioned to the right of the engine bay (sitting on its own). I do not know the tech bit about this sensor, but apparently it was a short lived mod and now is not on later models. To cure the problem I just shorted out the 2 wires as the sensor is normally closed. If this sensor prematurely goes open circuit it cuts off the fuel supply. Have tried to find a replacement sensor but they do not seem to be available .
Ive just received a notice of intended prosecution for a week ago, stating I was doing 50 in a 40 zone (in Staffordshire) I remember seeing the van and looking at the speedo which showed just over 45 .
Now given that the most speedo's are set out of sync (as proved by anyone who compares it with the speed showing on a satnav), what is the process if I want to challenge this would I have to attend court ?
Any previous experience from people out there would be great.
Thanks
Richard Read more
ye I know they are the guidelines. lets hope for the best.
Hello,
my 306 is often, not always idling around 1600-2000rpm. I have taken it to my usual garage who diagnosed Idle Control. They replaced the idle control valve. The idle speed is still doing the same thing.
I spoke to Peugeot who say this is a common fault with the 1.4 and 1.6 models and that with these problems they have encountered before the throttle body has had to be replaced.
Can anyone tell me if this expensive and if the information Peugeot have given me is correct?
My garage said no ECU fault codes were showing so does this mean the ECU is OK or should I be more worried?
Thanks All Read more
Thanks for the responses guys.
I looked in my Haynes manual for coolant temp sensor. My 306 has air con and according to the Haynes book the temperature sensor goes to the dashboard temperature gauge.
Can anyone shed a bit more light on this please?
Thanks
Hi all - looking to buy a Mazda 5.
Hoping someone can confirm: avoid sports model as they are the ONLY models to suffer excess tyre wear...?
I think my 'ideal' model is a 55-56 2.0 D in TS or TS2 or Furano guise....
Looking at £10k. Read more
I purchased a Mazda 5 sport in September 2005, tyre wear back and front was horrendous, one even blew out after the garage re-alligned wheels.We got so fed up that we traded it in and on the garage's assurance that the problems were solved, bought another one.
This was a big mistake, same problem all over again, garage dismissive and says all MPV's are the same.
We shall not be buying another Mazda.
we have a 2000 golf cabriolet colour concept which when warm keeps cutting out. The rev counter drops to zero, the oil light flashes then the battery light flashes and car dies. You have to stop the car, key out and then re start it but as engine gets warmer it cuts out more frequently. Read about relay 109 and garage said mine doesnt have a relay 109 and told me to change relay 30 which i did but it still isnt fixed ?? any ideas please would be greatfully recieved ?? its totally random but when cars cold in the morning you can drive it for about 20 mins before the fault starts
The volume in the subject header has been turned down! Also added the year & engine info as per the 2 ignored sticky posts Read more
My wife's X-reg colour concept cab is doing same thing. Did you ever get it sorted? Runs fine until Oil temperature reaches 76 degrees then conks out & won't restart until cooled down for at least 30 mins. RAC man was called the first time & he said it had a spark and fuel was being delivered. Still had to tow me home though!
So far I've changed the spark plugs, plug leads, coil lead, coil, ECU relay, fuel pump relay, crank position sensor, distributor, distributor cap and the rotor arm. ...
hi there , ive lost my mother in laws electronic fob for her 2004 nissan micra , ( in the dog house )
can anyone tell me how much they are to replace?
cheers claire Read more
These people may help - at a price!
www.autolocksmiths.net/
Hi,
Got a intermitent problem with my car. Basically I notice that now and again the headlights quickly flicker and at the same time I hear a relay click on and off in the dash. Something in the BSI I suspect.
I also notice the following when the car is doing this:
1) The engine seems to be a little rougher.
2) If at idle increasing the revs to 1000 or above caused the relay to click.
3) At 1000 revs and above the engine hunts slightly, maybe by 25-40rpm every 2-3 seconds.
4) The rear demister doesn't click the relay when the button is pressed. (It does normally)
Everything else such as internal lights, fans and such seem fine.
I'm kind of seeing a pattern when it happens, it seems to happen every 400 miles (90% motorways) or so, based on the last 3 occurances. And seems to last 12-13 miles or so before the clicking/flickering/very slightly rough running stops.
It didn't happen when I took it to peugeot and there were no error codes !
Any idea's ?
I thought it might in some way be related to the regen of the FAP but why this would effect lights and the BSI I would have no idea.
Cheers
Steve Read more
Phoned pug dealership today and explained the full problem as I now know it, expected them to go, oh yes thats such and such. No such luck the engineer said he'd never heard of this problem before so I guess I'll need to try and get my timing right and get it in when its happening which won't be easy.
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I was reading a road test of a new Aston Martin and the road tester talked of cruising at 120 mph. on a trip up to Huddersfield. It was a DB4 and the year 1961. Most cars struggled to get to 70 mph then. Folk then would not believe that in 40 years beyond 70 mph would be illegal , that 35 would get you a ticket in a 30 zone and smoking inside would be a crime!
Progress eh ?